Mesenchymal stem cells and ovarian cancer: Is there promising news?

J Cell Biochem. 2023 Oct;124(10):1437-1448. doi: 10.1002/jcb.30471. Epub 2023 Sep 8.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is described as a heterogeneous complex condition with high mortality, weak prognosis, and late-stage presentation. OC has several subgroups based on different indices, like the origin and histopathology. The current treatments against OC include surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, these methods have represented diverse side effects without enough effectiveness on OC. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy has acquired particular attention for treating diverse problems, such as cancer. These multipotent stem cells can be obtained from different sources, such as the umbilical cord, adipose tissues, bone marrow, and placenta, and their efficacy has been investigated against OC. Hence, in this narrative review, we aimed to review and discuss the present studies about the effects of various sources of MSCs on OC with a special focus on involved mechanisms.

Keywords: adipose tissue; bone marrow; mesenchymal stem cells; ovarian cancer; umbilical cord.

Publication types

  • Review